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Pier Theatre

641

The Pier Theatre was designed by Elisabeth Scott (who designed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre) when she was working in the Bournemouth Borough Architect's office in the late 1950s, and built in 1960 on the Bournemouth Pier. The Pier has existed since 1880, but has been extended and repaired on four occasions and now stands 1,000ft long. In 1960 a new concrete sub-structure was built underneath to carry the theatre, which lies about two-thirds of the way down the pier and was designed to look like an ocean liner. The theatre roof is barrel-vaulted copper. Two five-foot tall figures of seahorses adorn the front elevation above the entrance. Planning approval was gained in 2011 for a change of use to an adventure sports attraction. The theatre closed in late 2013 and the building re-opened as the RockReef Adventure Activity Attraction in May 2014. The new use has been carfully designed to allow a return to theatre use, should this be desired in the future.

Built / Converted
1960
Dates of use
  • 1960 - 2013: Theatre
  • 2014 : Activity Centre
Current state
Extant
Current use
Theatre
Address
Bournemouth Pier, Pier Approach, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 5AA, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
RockReef
Events
  • Owner/Management: Bournemouth Borough Council, owners of Pier
  • 1960 Design/Construction: designed with Elisabeth Scott.
    A Hewitt of J Caslake Ltd (Bournemouth)
    - Consultant
    five-foot sea-horses (two) on fascia above entrance
    John Burton (Borough Architect)
    - Architect
  • 1960 - 2013 Use: Theatre
  • 1995 Alteration: refurbished, redecorated, recarpeted; grid reinstalled and modernised (architect unknown).
  • 2006 Owner/Management: Openwide International Ltd, lessee
  • 2014 Alteration: Converted to RockReef Activity Centre
  • 2014 Use: Activity Centre
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Original
    Description
    850
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    850
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    650
    Comment
    2013
Listings
  • Listing
    Not listed
Stage type
Proscenium, flat
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: Depth: 5.4m Width SL: 4.27m SR: 4.27m
Proscenium width: 7.62m x 3.66m
Height to grid: 8.29m 16 counterweight lines, 2 hemp lines
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: None